choose

verb

ˈchüz 

chose ˈchōz  ; chosen ˈchō-zᵊn  ; choosing ˈchü-ziŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to select freely and after consideration

choose a career

b

: to decide on especially by vote : elect

chose her as captain

2

a

: to have a preference for

choose one car over another

b

: decide

chose to go by train

intransitive verb

1

: to make a selection

finding it hard to choose

2

: to take an alternative

—used after cannot and usually followed by but

When earth is so kind, men cannot choose but be happy.

—J. A. Froude

chooser

ˈchü-zər 

noun

Synonyms of choose

• select
• pick
• prefer
• take

Examples of choose in a Sentence

Each year thousands of college students choose volunteer-service trips over beach bumming during their spring breaks and summer vacations. —Edward M. Kennedy, Time, 22 Sept. 2008

I had been invited to choose certain things that I might want from the house, but although there were indeed a couple of things that I would have liked, I was withheld from making the trip … —Alice Adams, "Why I Write," in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters,  1987

… as an instructor at New York University he chose to live by himself in lodgings that for the time must have been very expensive … —William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982

Any summary I might try to write for the rest of the novel would be worthless and I don't choose to waste my time at it. —Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being, 1979

The political party chose a leader.

They chose her as the team captain.

We've chosen a different time to go.

He was chosen because he's qualified for the job.

She was chosen from a long list of people.

He chose his words carefully.

Which shirt would you choose?

How do I choose when there's so much available?

Let everyone choose for themselves.

You can choose from among a number of alternatives.

Recent Examples on the Web

Active listings in the city are down about 30% since last year, partially driven by more renters choosing to stay put rather than test the market. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

How spontaneous is the crew in choosing to, say, send you off on a commuter train in Mumbai? — Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2026

Instead, focus on portion size, choose whole fruit when possible, and consider how peaches fit into your overall carbohydrate intake. — Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 16 Aug. 2026

However, successive boards have chosen not to enforce the restriction prohibiting dogs. — Howard Dakoff, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chosen, from Old English cēosan; akin to Old High German kiosan to choose, Latin gustare to taste

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing choose

• choose/pick sides
• choose sides
• choose up
• pick and choose
• pick/choose your poison

Rhymes for choose

• blues
• boos
• booze
• brews
• bruise
• chews
• chuse
• clews
• clues
• coups
• crews
• cruise

Kids Definition

choose

verb

ˈchüz 

chose ˈchōz  ; chosen ˈchōz-ᵊn  ; choosing ˈchü-ziŋ 

1

: to select freely and after consideration

choose a leader

2

: to make a choice : decide

chose to go by train

3

: to see fit

take them if you choose

chooser noun